Environmental groups have called on the Environment and Planning Tribunal to refuse an appeal for the controversial Ħondoq project.

Seven groups – Moviment Ħarsien Ħondoq, Flimkien għal Ambjent Aħjar, the Ramblers Association, Nature Trust, Friends of the Earth Malta, Din l-Art Ħelwa and Wirt Għawdex – urged the tribunal to turn down the request when it meets to decide on the case in two weeks’ time.

The issue revolves around a fresh set of plans submitted by the developers, who are proposing to replace the planned yacht marina with a swimming lagoon.

The planning authority had refused to accept the updated plans and said these had to be submitted through a new application, prompting an appeal from the developers of the €120 million project.

The project to build a five-star hotel, 285 flats and villas, 731 underground parking spaces, 10 shops and five restaurants had been slammed by Mepa’s environment unit and several environmental groups.

In a statement, the groups said the developers had at first, placed great emphasis on the fact that the marina would be a unique attraction drawing people to the hotel and making it viable.

However, in the new proposal “there is no marina to attract people to the hotel” so “if the developers are to be believed, this new proposal cannot be viable,” they said.

The groups are calling for the Ħondoq area to be converted into a national park, run by the local council, and rehabilitated into an open space for everyone as originally earmarked in the area’s local plans.